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June 2, 2023

U.N. Warns Foundering Black Sea Grain Deal Could Exacerbate Food Crisis
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A top Ukrainian minister said Russia has sowed winter crops for this
year's harvest in parts of occupied Ukraine claimed by President
Vladimir Putin as Russian territory. Officials also said Russia is
blocking the safe passage of Ukrainian shipments of food and fertilizer
under the Black Sea grain export deal. At the United Nations,
spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed Russia has recently imposed a
"continuous slowdown" at Black Sea ports.

Stéphane Dujarric: "This is a very serious situation. We need to move
forward. The initiative is bound for renewal on 17 July. Global hunger
hot spots are increasing, as we've been notifying you on a regular
basis. And the specter of food inflation and market volatility lurks in
all countries."



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